May 06, 2010
AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES
Post Flood Mold Clean-up
FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCE
OMK Summer Camps
Beware of Flood Clean-up Scams
Washing Flood-soiled Clothing
Flooded Home Appliances
4-H YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
Build a Butterfly Garden
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Post Flood Mold Cleanup
Source: Ricky Yeargan, senior extension associate, agriculture and natural resources
Torrential rains and the resulting flood damage that occurred in early May left a path of destruction for homeowners across Kentucky. Sunny skies and warm temperatures help to expedite clean-up efforts, but with high-moisture content in the air, conditions are ripe for the growth of mold and fungi in waterlogged buildings. A flood-damaged building needs special care to safely and effectively remove mold.
Mold is a type of fungi that begins to grow on materials that stay wet longer than two or three days. It produces tiny cells called spores that float and spread easily through the air. Live spores act like seeds to form new colonies when they find the right conditions. These include moisture, nutrients and a suitable place to grow with moisture being the key factor.
Some people are very sensitive to mold but long-term or heavy exposure to it is unhealthy for anyone. Mold can trigger allergic reactions, asthma attacks and also can compromise a person’s ability to resist illness. Young children and the elderly are most vulnerable.
Here are some suggestions to help you safely manage the removal of mold from your home.
1. Wear protective gear including gloves, goggles and an n95 respirator. Depending on the severity and extent of the mold, you may need to consider adding a VOC filter since mold gives off gases known as MVOCs (volatile compounds). An n95 respirator will filter fungal particulate matter, but it will not filter gases.
- Isolate the area you are working in by closing doors and ventilate by opening a window, if possible. Disturbing mold colonies during cleanup can cause a huge release of spores into the air. Take necessary steps to insure that mold spores are not able to spread. Cover air vents and turn off central air conditioning
- Remove moldy, porous materials. These may include carpeting, upholstery, fabrics and mattresses. Insulation can wick up moisture and stay wet for a long time. Cut wall covering above the water line and remove insulation to prevent the growth of mold and fungi inside walls. Remove vinyl wallpaper and flooring, ceiling tiles, gypsum wallboard and processed wood products that have retained moisture.
- Clean and disinfect. You can effectively clean surface mold from nonporous materials such as hard plastic, concrete, glass and metal. Clean to remove the mold, not just kill it, because dead spores can still cause health problems. After cleaning you may choose to disinfect. In cases where sewage contamination has occurred, disinfection is a must. Follow label directions for the disinfecting product and wear rubber gloves.
- Dry all wet materials as quickly as possible by running fans and a dehumidifier. Air out the building by using window fans to pull mold spores outdoors.
- Remain on the lookout for mold recurrences. If it returns, repeat cleaning and use speed drying equipment. Consider having vents professional cleaned and sanitized to ensure spores don’t spread.
- Do not attempt restoration until all materials have dried completely.
If you choose to hire a contractor to remove mold, seek out a licensed contractor with special training and equipment such as HEPA vacuums and dehumidifiers. Ask about cost, the methods to be used and the steps to be taken. Request details in writing.
For more information about how to manage recovery and cleanup from flood damage, contact the (COUNTY NAME) Cooperative Extension Service.
Educational programs of the Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of race, color, age, sex, religion, disability or national origin.
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Operation Military Kids Summer Camps
Source: Stephanie Moses, camp coordinator, Operation: Military Kids
For military families who are often separated through deployments and Active Duty demands, the chance to spend time together can take on special meaning. Operation: Military Kids (OMK), a grant funded through the University of Kentucky Family and Consumer Sciences Extension, is providing just such an opportunity with two free camping weekends in June and July.
Camps are open to parents and children from any branch of the military including Active Duty, Reserve, and National Guard families. Lots of exciting programs and activities are on the rosters.
The Lake Cumberland 4-H Center camp is set for June 11 to 13. Participating families can enjoy outdoor adventures like fishing, canoeing and nature hikes. Crafts, ropes challenge and geocaching help parents and kids share in the development of new strengths and skills.
Life Adventure Center in Versailles is the Operation: Military Kids Camp destination for July 9 to 11. Campfire programs, a hayride and an ice cream social are just a few of the activities planned to give families a chance to reconnect and spend quality time together.
Both camp schedules allow for free time for families to explore on their own and to spend time relaxing together. OMK Camps in Kentucky also offer the chance to share common experiences with new friends and build memories that will last a lifetime.
First priority is given to families whose service member has been injured during military service. The camp program at the Life Adventure Center in Versailles requires children to be age 7 and older. Military families who want to attend either camp are asked to apply by Thursday, May 20. Registration will remain open until all slots are filled.
Operation: Military Kids supports military families in a number of ways, including training for civilians who work with military personnel; resources for children of deployed family members; programs for older youth that provide a forum to talk about the stresses and challenges of being a military kid; and a portable computer lab and other resources available for loan for programs and activities that include military families.
To learn more about the camps, contact Stephanie Moses at . For more information about Kentucky Operation: Military Kids, visit the website http://www.operationmilitarykids.org or contact the (COUNTY NAME) Cooperative Extension Service. Educational programs of the Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of race, color, age, sex, religion, disability or national origin.
Beware of Flood Clean-up Scams
Source: Robert Flashman, state specialist, family resource management
The early May storms that brought heavy rainfall and flooding left behind a multitude of problems for homeowners. Consumers are in need of services which include everything from water removal to tree removal. It is unfortunate but true. In times of natural disaster, the offer of a helping hand doesn’t always come with the best intent. As you begin the process of clean-up and repair, here are some ways to protect yourself from unethical repair people.
1. Find out about the people with whom you are dealing. Are they licensed by the state? Ask for proof of liability insurance. If a company doesn’t have it, the homeowner could be sued by someone getting hurt as a result of the repair work or by a neighbor if their property is damaged from construction work. Also make sure the contractor carries workers’ compensation coverage in case a worker is injured on job.
2. Check unknown companies out with the Better Business Bureau (Louisville/Western Kentucky, 1-800-388-2222; Lexington/Eastern Kentucky, 1-800-866-6668) or call the Consumer Protection Division at 1-888-432-9257 to see if information is available about the company.
3. Have a written and signed contract before any work begins. The contract should clearly spell out all details of the work to be completed and include a beginning and ending date for the job.
4. Never pay for work before it has been completed. Do not give workers money to buy supplies unless you know them, personally. If supplies are needed ahead of time, purchase them yourself, otherwise the supplier can put a lien on property if contractor does not pay.
5. Be sure you have the physical address and phone number of the contractor. If you need to call to cancel the job, it is a good idea to follow up with a certified letter sent with a return receipt request.
For more information about how to protect yourself from unscrupulous business operators, contact the (COUNTY NAME) Cooperative Extension Service.Educational programs of the Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of race, color, age, sex, religion, disability or national origin.
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Flooded Home Appliances
Source: Suzanne Badenhop, extension specialist for family resource management
Recent flooding has left many Kentuckians wondering what to do about their water-logged appliances. In most cases, appliances can’t be salvaged after being covered in polluted flood water.
One problem is appliances like televisions and radios have many hidden wires and parts inside the outer covering that store electricity even when the item is unplugged. Extreme care should be taken when removing these items from a flooded home since there is still a risk of electrical shock.
Another problem is that appliances have metal wires that can get corroded when they get wet or stand in water. The electrical connections might be corroded or even come loose. These conditions can render appliances useless or dangerous to operate.
If you have a question, ask a licensed or certified appliance repair professional to inspect the appliance before using it. Most of the time, it is better to discard them and purchase new appliances.
In many cases, insurance settlements include the purchase of new appliances to replace those damaged by flooding. Talk to your insurance adjuster and make sure the purchase will be covered before you buy new appliances.
For more information about how to deal with flood damage in your home, contact (COUNTY NAME) Cooperative Extension Service. Educational programs of the Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of race, color, age, sex, religion, disability or national origin.
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Washing Flood-soiled Clothing
Source: Marjorie M. Baker, extension associate for textiles and clothing
Flood water may be contaminated with sewage waste that contains harmful bacteria. If your clothes come into contact with flood water, normal laundering with detergent and water is not enough to kill the bacteria that may be present. The bacteria from flood water can remain alive in fabrics for a long time. It is important that flood-soiled clothing and textiles be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected before using. Be sure to wear rubber gloves and protective clothing when handling flood-soiled clothing. Proper sorting, washing or dry cleaning, drying and storing flood-soiled clothes reduces the number of harmful bacteria and prevents contamination of clean clothes.
While outdoors, brush caked-on mud from clothing. Sort clothes and rinse several times in cool water to remove any mud that remains. Machine wash on the hottest water setting and longest agitation period, with the highest water level. It is extremely important to add a disinfectant to the wash water. Liquid chlorine bleach is the most accessible, cheapest and easiest disinfectant to use. It effectively kills bacteria in warm, hot or cold water. Follow the directions on the label for disinfecting.
A disinfectant in the wash water prevents harmful bacteria from being transferred from one article of clothing to another during the wash cycle, or from remaining on the inner surface of the washing machine and being transferred from one load to the next.
More bacteria are killed by drying clothes in automatic clothes dryers than by line drying. Survival of the bacteria varies with the size of the load, the drying temperature and the drying time. Line drying is most effective on a sunny day because the sun’s ultraviolet rays help destroy harmful bacteria.
For more information about clean-up following a flood, contact (COUNTY NAME) Cooperative Extension Service.
Educational programs of the Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of race, color, age, sex, religion, disability or national origin.
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4-H Build a Butterfly Garden
Source: Ric Bessin, extension professor, entomology; Blake Newton, extension specialist 4-H youth, entomology; Mary Carol Cooper, Salato Native Plant Program, Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources
Many home gardeners devote time to planning new projects and butterfly gardening is one project that continues to grow in popularity. A flower bed or garden can be eye catching and, with the right kinds of plants, can attract some of nature’s most colorful creatures. Planning, planting and tending a butterfly garden are great ways for youth to create an outdoor classroom with lots of possibilities for learning. Here are a few tips to help get started.
Location is very important. All insects are cold blooded and cannot internally regulate their body temperature. Butterflies will readily bask in the sun when it is warm, but few are seen on cloudy days. It is a good idea to leave open areas for butterflies to sun themselves, as well as partly shaded areas with trees or shrubs for shelter when it’s cloudy or too hot.
Butterflies like puddles. Males of several species congregate at small rain pools, forming puddle clubs. Permanent puddles are easy to make. Bury a bucket to the rim, fill it with gravel or sand, and then pour in sweet drinks or water